Spiral Skin Volatile Sampling for Non-Invasive Glucose Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive blood glucose monitoring technologies require electrodes or liquid capture systems, limiting their practicality and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A volumetric sampling apparatus with a unitary body and inward spiral channel structure that collects volatile compounds via transdermal diffusion, using a gas flow path without liquids or electrodes, and is mounted on the skin to form a gas seal, utilizing a gas composition analyzer for measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If volatile compounds are collected from skin for non-invasive blood-glucose measurement, then measurement accuracy can be improved, but the concentration of glucose volatiles in skin emissions is extremely low (below 1 part per billion), making detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from direct concentration measurement to ratio measurement. Instead of measuring the absolute concentration of glucose volatiles (which is below detection limits), the system measures the ratio of glucose volatile to water vapor concentration. This parameter transformation enables detection by converting an undetectable absolute value into a measurable relative value through selective absorption and ratio calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water vapor as an intermediary substance. Water vapor serves as a carrier and reference substance that facilitates the detection of trace glucose volatiles. By measuring the ratio of glucose volatile to water vapor, the system uses the abundant water vapor signal to amplify and make detectable the trace glucose volatile signal that would otherwise be undetectable.
2Measurement precision
If multiple volatile compounds are collected and analyzed, then measurement accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to requirements for multiple sensors and complex data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the volatile compound analysis into distinct functional components: water vapor detection, glucose volatile detection, and ratio calculation. By separating these functions into independent measurement channels (first and second sensors for different compounds), the system achieves accurate multi-compound analysis while maintaining modular device architecture that simplifies implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional measurement system where the same basic sensor architecture can detect multiple volatile compounds (water vapor, glucose volatiles, and other metabolic compounds). This universal approach allows accurate measurement of multiple compounds using a standardized device platform, reducing overall system complexity compared to dedicated single-purpose sensors for each compound.
3Ease of operation
If skin emissions are analyzed for blood-glucose measurement, then non-invasive measurement is achieved, but the volume of skin emissions is extremely small, requiring sensitive detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs continuous emission collection from the skin surface over an extended period. Rather than attempting to capture a single moment's emission, the system continuously accumulates volatile compounds from skin emissions throughout the measurement period. This continuous action aggregates sufficient analyte quantity while maintaining non-invasive operation, overcoming the limitation of extremely small instantaneous emission volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement approach from detecting absolute quantities of trace volatiles to measuring concentration ratios relative to water vapor. This parameter transformation allows the system to achieve sufficient detection sensitivity without requiring large volumes of skin emissions, as the ratio measurement amplifies the signal from the small emission quantities that are naturally produced during normal skin respiration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate, non-invasive blood glucose level monitoring by collecting and analyzing volatile compounds emitted from the skin, providing a more reliable and user-friendly solution compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
the volatile compounds are collected in a collection chamber... a porous polymer material is used to separate the volatile compounds from the breath sample
Implementation Method 2
the concentration of the glucose volatiles in the skin emissions is below 1 part per billion... the ratio of the concentration of the glucose volatiles to the concentration of water vapor in the skin emissions is measured
Data Source
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AI summary
A volumetric sampling apparatus for volatile compounds comprises a structure, such as a channel structure that forms a continuous curve between the inlet port and the outlet port. A gas flow induced in the structure urges volatile compounds collected via transdermal diffusion toward the outlet port, where the volatile compounds may be collected and analyzed.